100 Years Ago in Spokane: Civil Trial Answers Who Was Driving a Fatal Pedestrian Accident

A Spokane jury decided on a sensitive question that had been in doubt for months: Was Roger Bartelt or Ray English the driver of the car that killed pedestrian Audley B. Allison in February 1921?

The jury’s answer: Roger Bartelt.

In some ways, this was not a surprising decision, as Bartelt had pleaded guilty to manslaughter months ago and had served in Monroe reformatory.

But it wasn’t that simple. While Bartelt was serving in Monroe, two of the teenage passengers in the car filed affidavits claiming Ray English had driven the car. They said they all agreed to let Bartelt do the rap soon after the incident. Based on these affidavits, English was charged with manslaughter and is currently on bail.

This latest judgment was delivered during a civil trial. The Allison family had filed a US $ 50,000 lawsuit against the Bartelt family of unjustified death.

When considering the legal dispute, the jury had to answer the fundamental question: Did Bartelt actually drive the car?

In a special judgment they found that Bartelt actually drove the car. You have awarded the Allison family $ 20,000.

Prosecutors had made no statement, but the Spokane Daily Chronicle said “there is little doubt that” the charges against English would now be dropped.

The Bartelt family appealed the judgment.